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Adoption and Foster Care Information

Arizona Foster Care and Adoption Guidelines

We're happy to have the opportunity to walk you through the foster care and adoption process in Arizona. We will answer your adoption questions and assist you in making the process a positive experience.

Getting Started

You’ll begin by contacting a licensed adoption agency in the county you live in (this does not mean you will have to adopt from the county you live in). When contacting contracted agencies, please specify that you want to adopt from foster care to ensure you receive the correct information.

More About Fostering

While adoption is permanent, fostering is usually providing temporary care for a child while their birth family works with a social worker to improve the situation so that the child can return to his/her birth family.

More About Foster-to-Adopt

Foster-to-adopt is when you begin the foster care process knowing that you hope to adopt. Once your foster family assessment is approved, you may be eligible to have a child placed in your home for foster care.

Costs for Fostering and Adopting

Foster Care

In Arizona, being licensed to become a foster care parent is free!

Adoption

Most of Arizona’s contracted licensing agencies charge an $800 adoption certification fee. This fee is reimbursed to families when a waiting Arizona child from the U.S. foster care system (who is legally free for adoption) is placed into their home for the purposes of adoption. So, ultimately, adopting an Arizona child from foster care is free.

Families can, and do, adopt children from foster care in other States every year. When families adopt children who are in foster care and eligible for subsidy, the families may be eligible for reimbursement of limited nonrecurring adoption-related costs through the child’s State and federal options.

AdoptUSKids is operated by the Adoption Exchange Association and is made possible by grant number 90CQ0003 from the
Children’s Bureau. The contents of this website are solely the responsibility of the Adoption Exchange
Association and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Children’s Bureau, ACYF,
ACF, or HHS. Find out more about us.